Empowering Futures: The Midcounties Co-operative Supports Over 55 Individuals Through Inclusive Employment Initiatives

The Midcounties Co-operative has supported more than 55 individuals over the last 12 months through its continued focus on employability support with partnerships aimed removing barriers to deliver genuine social value for communities through fairer access to employment.

The employability initiatives include several regional partnerships, including The Fairer Futures Programme in partnership with Birmingham social enterprise, Miss Macaroon, and the Fairer Access to Work scheme, a collaboration with charity Aspire Oxfordshire.

The Fairer Futures Programme supports young adults aged 30 and under, including those with disabilities, lone parents, individuals who are neurodiverse, have mental health issues or learning differences, or have been in touch with the criminal justice system. Meanwhile, Fairer Access to Work helps those facing adverse conditions such as homelessness, poverty, or disadvantage, including refugees in the process of being resettled.

Both programmes stand as testament to the member-led strategy and ethos of co-operation which guides The Midcounties Co-operative, working with like-minded businesses and organisations to create a fairer, ethical and more sustainable future for the communities it operates in. As well as providing the opportunity to gain retail experience, the Society has gone even further to provide dedicated store space for work skills training and counselling with other organisations, alongside 1-1 mentor support from colleagues.

As a result, the programmes have had a significant impact on the confidence of participants, with testaments highlighting how much more secure individuals felt in themselves after completing the schemes, whilst also securing permanent employment.

The Fairer Futures Programme supported more than 30 local people over the last year, with over 25 moving into permanent employment, while over 20 people embarked on the Fairer Access to Work scheme with 12 securing employment as a direct result.

Tarra Simmons, Head of Community and Democratic Engagement at The Midcounties Co-operative, said: “At The Midcounties Co-operative, everything we do is guided by our members and our commitment to building a fairer, ethical and more sustainable future. These employability programmes are a powerful expression of that purpose in action, helping to remove barriers, restore confidence, and open doors for people who are often overlooked or need more of a helping hand.

By working in partnership with like-minded organisations, we can ensure that our impact for the communities we serve is real, lasting and rooted in the values we share.”